The Cuddy
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
THE CUDDY (J8x32) 3C (4C set) John Bowie Dickson Dunedin Dances Book 11- 8 1s dance reels of 3 on own sides (between 2s to start)
9-16 1s dance down for 2, up to top, cast 1 place and turn RH to give LH to 1st corners
17-24 1s+1st corners Balance-in-Line, 1s turn to 2nd corners, Balance-in-Line and turn RH to 2nd places own sides
25-32 2s+1s+3s set, cross RH, set and cross back
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
Keith Rose's Crib Diagram
Dance Instruction Videos
The Cuddy - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction VideoDance Information
John Bowie Dickson (1919–1998), a well-known figure in the world of Scottish country dancing, lived in Edinburgh during his lifetime. Although there is no clear record of him residing close to Eddleston Water, his choice of dance titles points to a knowledge of the Peebles area.This dance, "The Cuddy", shares its name with a section of the Eddleston Water near Peebles, suggesting a possible inspiration from that part of the Borders. The last stretch of Eddleston Water before it enters the river Tweed is called "Cuddyside".
Another of his dances, Gypsy Glen, takes its name from a glen to the south of Peebles, an area traditionally used by drovers as a resting place for their cattle. These references imply a connection with the region, whether through visits, local ties, or personal interest.
"Cuddy" is also a Scottish word, meaning a donkey or small horse. This is the most common Scottish usage, for example, someone might say, "He's as stubborn as a cuddy", meaning as stubborn as a donkey. In older rural Scotland, "cuddy" was a very down-to-earth term - you'd hear it in farming communities where donkeys or working ponies were common.
"Cuddy" can also refer to a small cabin or shelter on a boat, especially in nautical terms used in Britain and North America. In this context, a cuddy is typically a small enclosed space on a small boat, such as a storage compartment or a tiny cabin just big enough to provide shelter or basic accommodation.
A Cuddy boat is a boat with a small shelter cabin. The cuddy on cuddy boats is usually not tall enough to stand in.
So while "Cuddy" in Scottish usage often means a donkey or pony, it also has this completely separate meaning in boating and maritime settings. The meaning depends entirely on context.
The Cuddy Or Eddleston Water Joining The River Tweed At Greenside
Stern View, Entry To Cuddy, Forward Of The Wheel, Scow Schooner
This page uses content under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, along with original copyrighted content and excerpts from Wikipedia and other sources.
Text from this original Eddleston-Water article on Wikipedia.
Text from this original Donkey article on Wikipedia.
Text from this original Cuddy (Cabin) article on Wikipedia.
Upper image copyright Jim Barton under this Creative Commons Licence 2.0.
Lower image from (cropped) Lowe, Jet, creator, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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